Vacuum cleaners



Aug- 30, 1955 E. l.. HOFFMANN EVAL 2,716,254

VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Dec. 30, 1948 4 SheebS--Sheel l j ftorzzey Aug.30, 1955 E. L. HOFFMANN ETAL 2,716,254

VACUUM CLEANERS I Filed Dec. 50, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F/Et3.

Aug. 30, 1955 E. L. HOFFMANN Erm. 716,254

VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Dec. 30, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 30, 1955 E.L.. HOFFMANN ETAL 2,716,254

VACUUM CLEANERS Filed Dec. 30, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 efwa if ,EVEN/Jagenflora ey Unitedv States Patent() VACUUM' CLEANERS.

Elmer'L. Hotmann,Park Ridge, andfBernha'rdtB. Brug? gen,'Berwyn, lll.,assgnors to' Raymond T. Moloney Applicationfecemberl, 1948,.Serial N037685256V 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-40'2) This invention'pertains to vacuumcleaners, particularly vbut not exclusively, toy cleaners, it beingunderstood that numerous features of construction and operl Moreparticular objectsfarey the provisionin a vacuumy cleaner of amain-housing element which maybe cast and molded as a single unit andparticularly characterized in that it has an. integrally formedsuctionchamber -in an upper face with integrally formed terminal lforattachment to the dust bag, and an integrally formed intake or pickupchamber in a lower face thereof.

Additional objects and. aspects of novelty and utility pertain, todetails of construction and: operation of'vthe embodimentdescribedhereinafter in view ofthe annexed drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a vertical section through the working unit of the cleaner;

Fig. 2 is a top'pla'n View. of the. unit of Fig. -l',.with the domeremoved. and. disclosing the motor subassembly;

Fig. 3 is a. bottom plan view of the main housing shell with the closurecomb removed;

Fig. 4 is a bottom. planfview .to` smaller scale ofthe mainhousing shellwith the, closure comb'in position; Fig. 5 is. atop. planview of. the.mainhousing shell with themotor subassembly removed.V tov expose. tl'ievsuc?- tion chamber; y

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary top plan View of the handle switch mechanism.-in-the on position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar. to Fig. 6,.with.the handle switch',

in off position and the handle lockengaged;

Fig. 83 is asideelevation ofthe completercleaner; Fig. 9' isavfragmentary median'. detail, showing -parts Vin section, of thejointed-handleand bag hook means;

Fig. 10isaa-schematic-circuit'idetail of the motor -trans- Y formermeansfor-procuringfheadlight voltage; v

Fig. ll.v is -a-Iagmentar-y'perspective view-offthe'rear of the domeshell. Y l

Referring tothe lgene-ral'assemblyshowlrin` Fig. 8, the -cleanerincludesfthe'working7 unit generally- `indicated yat 15,. whichinturnincludes `a lower housing-.shell 16 elastic band: at. its.` lower:end-.tofy the. discharge nozzlel 2,716,254 Patented Aug.v 30, 1:955

2 2'5, which forms an integral part of the lower shell (Fig. 5).

As viewed in Fig. 5, the lower shell 16 on its upper face has anintegrally formed fan chamber 30 communicating from the nozzle formationin a rear wall of theshell through an intake opening 3-1 to the bottomof the chamber.

As viewed in Fig. 3, the main housing shell 16 on its underside includesthe annular skirt portion or wall 16A (see also Fig. 8) and theinternally pendant or depressed portions A ofthe suction chamber, whichis shown also to advantage in Fig. l, together with reinforcing ribs 33and 34 and certain comb mounting bosses 35 and wheel mounting bosses 36,it being observed that the rib portions 34V have transverse ribs 37.

As in Fig. 3, wheels 38 are mounted by pins 39 on T-shaped bracketswhich include a cross-member 40 apertured to Seaton the cross-ribs 37with bosses 36 passing therethrough, said brackets being heldin place bygripper wafers 41 engaging certain of the bosses 36, as shown also toadvantage in Fig. l.

Referring to Fig. 2, the motor subassembly includes a mounting plate 44of size sufficient to close the suction chamber 3l), said plate beingvretained by gripper wafers 45 engaged with integral wafers 46 andfurther positioned by bosses 47 engaged in notches in the plate,together with a thrust rib 48 at the leading edge of said plate, whichrib is grooved as at 49 to receive the window glass for the headlight.

A motor, including the usual field core 50 and winding. 51, is mountedon a pair of posts, one of which is indicated atYSZ in Fig. 6, andbothof which have reduced upper coreposts 53 (Fig. 2)v projecting upwardlythrough the core and engaged by retaining wafers 54.

In Fig. l the motor will be observed to have a shaft .55v depending intothe suction chamber 30 where it is frictionally gripped by hub portions56 on a molded plastic turbine or blower-rotor 57V (see also Fig. 3).The rotor 57 includes integral blades 58, and has its hub 56 split as at55A to afford a forced iit withshaft 55.

The otherwise open bottom of the shell 16, as it appears in Fig. 3, isclosed by a combination combY and closure plate 60 shown in Fig. `4,andwhich. is preferably constructed of a material such as iibre whichwill have an amount of rigidity, some. yieldability, and. a minimum ofcutting hardness.

The plate 60 has a transverse suction slot 61; stamped therein with aplurality of outturned teeth 62 formed alongthe. rear or. trailing edgethereof,.as.shown.to advantage also in Fig. l.

The terminals of the transverse comb slot are enlarged as at 63 toaccommodate the wheels 38, and thefleading edge of the slot is turnedinwardly as at 64 (Fig. lV also) to. provide. a deecting edge'for theinflowing. air. stream. The necessity for rear wheels is eliminated. bythe provision in the comb plate of a plurality of glidingboss formations65 and 66 stampedtherein. An angular rib -67 is. embossed in theplateinwardly to fit against the reinforcing ribs33 of the main shell furthersecuring -the comb plate against rearward displacementand also.providing a deflector leading upwardly from4 the comb 62 beneath. theair intake opening. 31 in the suctionchamber. Drive pins-69 insertedinbosses 65 secure the comb plate in position.

As viewed in Fig. 2, the rockable handle mountv 18 includes av yokeportion with divergent trunnion offsets 18A pivotally engaged in straps70-riveted as at 71 to plate 44 (see Fig; 6 also).

A switch-operating plate 74' (Figs. 6 and 7) is mounted to-slide on thebase plate-44 bymeans'of'an elongated `central slot 75 whichA isittedlonto the reduced lower rendportion l521A ofi one of-'tl'ie' motormounting 'posts 52,

there lbeing'a pair of upsetrears 76 in the base plate eri` gaging anedge of the switch-operating plate to guide the latter in reciprocatorymovement effected by the handle member 18 through the agency of an arm77 upset `from the operating plate 74 andhaving pin and slot connec- .ltion as at 7s (Figs. 1, 2, 6, and 7) with one of the hook arms of thehandle mount 18.

' Over-center or toggle-type snap-switch 80 (Figs, 1, 2, 6, and 7) ismounted on the subassembly plate 44 and includes an operating yoke 81cooperable with a pin 82 on the Aslide plate 74, such that reciprocationof the latter between the on and off positions of Figs. 6 and 7 as byrocking the handle correspondingly will snap the switch into ott and onpositions.

Means for locking'the handle in raised and off position includes a lockconsisting of a pair of upset lugs 85 struck up `from plate 44 to whichis secured V-shaped spring condition the handle means 18, 19, and 20would be in a substantially vertical position with the switch 80Asnapped to off position.

The headlight assembly includes a socket 90 mounted on bracket 91 iixedto plate 44.

As indicated in the circuit diagram of Fig. 10, the

lamp 92 is energized from a step-down winding 93 shown to be connectedto the lamp by conductors 94, and which winding has induced therein arelatively low voltage from the field set up by the main winding 95 forthe motor field. The motor winding 95 is intended to be energized fromthe standard commercial lighting circuit through conductors 96lincluding the main operating switch 80, and a safety factor isintroduced by applying a steppeddown voltage of the order of 6-8 voltsfor head-lamp 92.

A further feature is the location of the low-voltage winding on theoutside of the motorrwinding, whereby to afford a metallic shield, theresistance of said shield winding being high to limit the load currentto afford a safety factor against both short-circuit and shock loads.This contrivance not only protects all users of the machine,particularly children, but reduces costs by eliminating ,a protectivemetallic shield for the motor or transformer, otherwise required.

The construction of the cleaner is completed by provision of a domeshell 17, Fig. 1, preferably molded from l. plastic with a windowopening in the. region 17A, which opening has three of the four sides ofa frame for'the window glass 98, the fourth side of the frame beingprovided by the thrust rib 48 in the main shell.

As indicated in Fig. 11, it will be observed that the dome shell 17 isprovided with a pair of deep slots 17B and three wall portions 17C and17D in which the hook portions of the handle element 18 may rock backand forth, the recessed wall portions 17C and 17D neverthelesssubstantially closing off these slots, excepting at their open bottomportions 17E.

We claim:

1. In a vacuum cleaner, a main housing shell having at least two sets ofcrossed reinforcing ribs onk opposite sides thereof, and wheel mountsincluding wheel-supporting brackets each having a longitudinal sectionintersecting a crosswise section and each mounted on a set of saidcrossed ribs with their respective longitudinal sections each restingalong one rib of the corresponding set and their respective crosswisesections eachk resting along the corresponding crosswise rib portion,each said set of ribs having boss formations engaged in thecorrespondingwwheel bracket, and bracket-securing means engaged withsaid bosses.

2. In asuction cleaner, a housing shell comprising a top Wall Vhaving anintegral, depending, circumambient skirtdeining` a bottom chamber, andhavinga depressed -`well'extending down into saidchamber andconstituting a fanchamber, the latter-having an intake openingcommunicating into said bottom chamber, and said well opening upwardlythrough the plane of said top wall and further including a dischargeextension opening upwardly through said plane and also leading throughsaid skirt into conjunction with anintegral bag flange; a motorfansubassembly including a base plate carried on said top wall and closingoi said well and discharge passage portions in the top wall and having afan extended into said well; said vshell having .an integral webextending between opposite sides of said skirt in said bottom charnberdividing the latter to form a suction chamber communicating with saidintake opening in the fan chamber; said shell further having a set ofintegral, crossed Webs in said bottom chamber and situated at oppositesides of said suction chamber therein and providing wheel supports; anda bottomy closure plate tted into said bottom chamber to close thelatter substantially in its entirety, said plate including an elongatedsuction slot overlying said suction chamber and having integrally oisetcombing teeth struck downwardly out of the plane of said plate, togetherwith at least two wheel openings therethrough; and wheel means includinga crossed bracket Y member seated upon each of said crossed-web wheelsupports Vand each said bracket member carrying a wheel adapted toproject through one of said wheel openings.

fibrous material iitted into said bottom chamber at said' sidewallmarginsto substantially close olf said bottom chamber and overlie thelatter `and said wheels and dividing web; said plate having an elongatedsuction opening extending in parallelism with the wheel axis andterminating at opposite ends in enlargements each registering ywith oneof said wheels and through which the latter project for gliding actionas aforesaid, said suction opening having a series of offset combingteeth formed along at least one longitudinal margin thereof.

v4. A construction according Vto claim 3 in which said plate isadditionally provided with a plurality of elongated, substantiallyparallel extrusions directed normally ofthe Y wheel axis to definegliding ribs.

References Cited'in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re.19,844 Kitto Feb. 4, 1936 .f 214,313 Rapp Apr. 15,' 1879 968,934Goughnour Aug. 30, 1910 1,192,949 Spangler Aug, 1, 1916 1,234,578,Stecker `luly 24, 1917 1,302,192 Mason Apr. 29, 1919 1,356,663 SpielmanOct.. 26, 1920 1,380,163 Spielman May 3l, 1921 1,654,186 Nulsen Dec.27,1927

, 1,820,350 Dance Aug. 25, 1931 1,928,944 l Mellen Oct. 3, 19331,994,872 Replogle et al. Mar. 19, 1935 2,008,476 f Taylor July 16, 1935Y2,080,521 White May 18, 1937 2,118,721 Aitken May 24, 1938 2,136,247VKroenlein Nov. 8, 1938 2,139,503 Jordan f Dec. 6, 1938 l 2,190,679 -vReplogle Feb. 20, 1940 (Other references on following page)v 5 UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Boyle Feb. 25, 1941 Carlson Oct. 14, 1941 Lang et al.Nov. 3, 1942 Seyfried Feb. 9, 1943 Hahn Mar. 2, 1943 Hansson May 25,1943 Kinsella June 29, 1943 Brown Nov. 2, 1943 6 Becker Sept. 26, 1944Hallock June 5, 1945 Hahn Mar. 19, 1946 Leslie Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGNPATENTS Germany Sept. 24, 1931 Great Britain June 30, 1948

